DOMINION TENNIS TEAM. REDUCED RATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1922, Page 8

DOMINION TENNIS TEAM.

REDUCED RATES.

MATCHES IN AUSTRALIA. j THE EARLIER MATCHES. ; (From Our Special Correspondent. 1 SYDXEY, April 23. Some idea of the weather conditions under whieli the New Zealand team has had to eett!e down to hard and regular practice may be got from the fact that on April 20 the the ehade temperature at noon wae flldeg, the highest on record for April for 63 years in Sydney. A most unfortunate accident occurred at Double Bay on the 19th, when Mks Lance (captain N.S.W.) fell and severely injured her arm. This will necessitate her withdrawal from the team and all tennis for at leaet a month, causing great disappointment to herself and both N.S.W. and New Zealand teams. In the ehort time with which ehe has been associated with the New Zealandere she has already become a great favourite, and is a "sport" in every sense of the word. The lose to her side is irreparable. Mies N. -Lloyd will now be fourth player for N.S.W. - ' ' The weather for the play N.S.W. v. New Zealand match was ideal —bright sunshine and a cool southerly breeze. The match between Misa Curtie and Miss St. (Jeorge was very interesting. Both player* started rather badly, neither getting length and making many mistakes. Each won their service game to two all, when Mice Curtis eeemed to settle down more to her own game. With excellent driving and volleying she got the lead to 5 —2, making few mistakes. Miss St. George won the next game after a great struggle, making the score 5 —3. Mise Curtis serving well, however, in the next game led 40—15, where with a beautiful drive down the backhand finished off the eet with a fine Rniaeh across court. In the next set Mies Curtis improved every game, and making few mistakes and volleying brilliantly gave her opponent no chances, winning the set 6—2. | Mies Macfarlane met Mrs. T,a«relle*. who eeemed to hold her own from the beginning, whereas Miss Macfarlane seemed to find the court faster than the practice ones. In the first set Mre. Las- : celles, getting beautiful length and plac ing accurately, won the firet six games to love. She appeared to find no difficulty in outplacing Mise Macfarlaue, leading I—o. In the next set ehe lost her only game in the match, Miss Macfarlane* forcing the score to 1— 1. Following this the play wae more even, »ithough the Auckland lady did not seem able to get the point required for many games, and the match finished o—l to jlr.s. Lascellee. The match between Mie« Pay ton and Mise Gray was responsible for some very fine play on both sides. Both started well, and at 2 all the play wae very even. Here Mise Gray eeemed to take charge, and after an exciting game got the lead, 3 —2. From this point Mice Payton eeemed to lose her length, and found difficulty in returning her opponent's fast and well-placed eervee, and the first set ended in favour of Miss Gray. 6—2. From the boginnine of the second eet there was no doubt which way the match would go. Mine Gray completely outplayed her opponent, driving and volleying brilliantly, both forehand and backhand, and the eet finished 6-0 to K.S.W. The Mise Wellwood-Miee Lloyd match was more evenly contested than the ecore sounds. In the first eet Mise Wellwood was slow in starting, and Miss Lloyd's emart, crisp tennis seemed to disconcert her, Miss Lloyd winning the set 6—2. From the beginning of the next set the play waa more even. Miss Wellwood was now driving and placing well, and passed her opponent many timee down the side. However, the* N.S.W. player was not to be frightened away from the net. and with her fast service found many chances to run in, and the score • read 4—l after most interesting play. Miss Lloyd improved her *lead to 6—4, and on changing eides won the next, 6—4, and match: DOUBLES GAMES. Miseon Curtis and Wellwood v. Mre. 'Lascellee and Miw St. George.—From the beginning the N.S.W. pair had much the better of the game, and after the score reading I—l they improved as the set proceeded, and won the next five games and eet. 6—l. In the second eet the New Zealandere' play wae disappointing when an extra effort wae required, and the N.S.W. players, making few mistakes, won the match, ft-—2. Miss Curtis was not playing her usual game, and eeemed to have no confidence in her partner, who appeared tired and made few opening* for her at the net. Misees Macfarlane and Payton v. Missee Gray and Lloyd.—This match, the last one to be played, proved much the closeet of all, and come brilliant tennis was eeen, at times the ball not touching the ground after the service return, all players volleying excellently. The New Zealand pair got the lead, 3—2 and 4 —3 and 5—4. but were forced to 5—5 by good play by N.S.W. N.S.W. led 6—5, and with brilliant serving by Mies Lloyd, at timee the ball being untouched, they won the firet eet, 7 —6. The second set started very evenly, 3 —3, but very fine driving by Mies Macfarlane and good volleys by Miss Payton the New Zealand pair won the next three games and eet, 6 —3. Set all. By this time the sun wae getting low, but all players were playing keenly. After the score was I—l the New Zealand pair seemed to hold their own. They were both playing a very fine game, and were not to be denied, and winning the next three games led 4 —l. Here the N.S.W. pair made a great effort for the game, but brilliant play by Miss Macfarlane won it for New Zealand s—l,5 —1, and the next game also, making 6 —l, set and match.

I REDUCTION OF OVERDRAFT. j ; " «• HAMILTON'S GOOD SHOWING. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. ' The Hamilton Borough Council last night struck the following rates for the enduing year: —Hamilton, 3 7-llid; 3|d; Frankton, I 15-16 d; Alexander Street rating area, id; water, 5 per cent, of annual ratable value. Jn reference to borough finances, the Mayor (Mr. Fdw) said the estimates of receipts provided for last year had on the whole been well sustained and in the aggregate had been exceeded. On the expenditure side there had 'been an excess, but the total result of the year's operations ■had Tieen a welcome reduction of the overdraft. Perusal of the estimates would show that, while continuation of a conservative policy had been deemed necessary, fairly liberal allowances had been made for expenditure on items essential to the welfare of the borough. Despite the increase in consumption of 1 electricity, sales of gas had increased by 10 p?r cent, during the current year. 'Leases of several valuable endowments in Victoria Street were being renewed, and the council would in this and succeeding years have rents ba,-*d on pre- ■ sent day values, instead of those of years ago. These rental" would be equivalent to a difference of 3-16 d general rate. The general rate this year had been reduced by l-16th of a penny. Mr. Mason said it was very gratifying to be able to announce a reduction of rate, even though it was only small, together with a substantial reduction of overdraft, especially in view of the prophecy made by certain people earlier in the year that they would end up in such a 'muddle as would take an additional 2d to 2id rate to sret them out. Other councillors expressed pleasure lat the generally healthy position. ' I Mr. Farrar stated that the council ' had more than double the amount of ' money to spend on the streets than they had lnet year. 'I I —-